Colombian President Defends Legitimacy of the M-19 Flag Amid Controversy

DECEMBER 18, 2024 — Colombian President Gustavo Petro took to X yesterday to defend his display of the M-19 flag at various public events, Zona Cero reported.

Petro asserted its legal and symbolic significance rooted in Colombia’s peace process.

His defense comes after criticism from former Justice Minister Yesid Reyes who argue that using the flag sends a contradictory message regarding the country’s stance against organized crime.

The issue gained prominence following a recent event in Uruguay where President Petro presented the M-19 flag while honoring former Uruguayan president José “Pepe” Mujica. This act drew sharp criticism, notably from Reyes, who in a El Espectador op-ed, contended that the flag’s association with the M-19 guerrilla movement glorifies its violent past.

Reyes argued that the M-19’s history includes criminal activities such as kidnappings, assassinations, and the 1985 Palace of Justice siege, actions that should not be publicly celebrated. He suggested that Petro’s use of the flag could inadvertently send a mixed message to contemporary criminal organizations.

In response, Petro emphasized the historical context of the M-19 flag. He noted that the flag shares its origins with the Anapo (Alianza Nacional Popular) party, founded by General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla.

According to Petro, the flag’s design — a blue stripe representing conservatives, a red stripe representing liberals, and a white stripe symbolizing peace — was intended to mark the reconciliation between the two traditional parties following a civil war that claimed 300,000 lives.

Petro further argued that the M-19, which adopted the Anapo flag, was a pioneering movement for peace in Latin America. After signing a peace agreement in 1989, the group transitioned from armed conflict to democratic participation, securing a significant number of seats in the 1991 Constituent Assembly that drafted Colombia’s current constitution, according to RTVC Noticias.

Petro stated, “The M-19 flag is the same as that of Anapo, symbolizing peace. It became a legal symbol through our peace agreement.”

“This flag represents the peace agreement and is, therefore, legal,” Petro concluded.

Image: El Espectador